Envelop-machine.



PATENTED APR. 7 1908. T. W. KIENAST. ENVELOP MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED DBO. 27,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 884,335. PATENTED APR. v, 1908. T. W. KIENAST.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED BBQ-27, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2- No. 884,335. HPA'TENTED APR. 7,1908.

- T. W. KIBNAST. ENVELOP MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

130. 884,335. PATENTEb APR. '7, 1908.

T. W. KI'ENAST. ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 27,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4 .IIIIIIIMHIIIH I illllh'llllllllllllllllll|||IllllHllllllllIlllllllllllfltlilllll llllllllll I II I'll No. 884,335. PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.

T. W. KIENASTI ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1330.27.1906.

7 SHEETSS IEET 5.

PATENTEDAPR.7,1908.

m E A G A EM P ILO L W T Rm 3 .AI 8 8 APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27,1906. v

' '7 SHEETS-SHEET 6-- Inventor Z1 V fienast B Winemm.

T. W; KIBNAST. BNVBLOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE?) DBO. 27, 1906.

7 SHEETSSHEET 7.

WWW. Ira en for? TWIZPWZ- 7M $41M UNITED .sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS WILLIAM KIENAST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL CUPPLES ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, A CORPORATION. I

ENVELOP-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 1908.

Application filed December 27, 1906. Serial No. 349,618.

America, residing in the city of New York, in

the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the. accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

M invention relates to an im rovement in mac ines for making envelops aving inc0rporated'therein a transparent paper strip throu h which writing upon an inclosure place with-in the envelo may be viewed, thereby making the enve op one commonly termed a self-addresse( envelop.

The present invention pertains to mechanism whereby the transparent paper web is fed, cut into strips oft e desired size, and applied to the envelop blanks that are provided with sight openings at the points. to which the transparent, paper strips are to be applied.

igure I is a side elevation of my machine. Fig. II is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical-section taken on line IIIIV, Fig. II, with-the cutting mechanism and adjacent part of the machine illustrated as theyanpear just previous to the feeding of the we of transparent paper into position to be cut. Fig. IY is an enlarged vertical section taken on line III-I\", Fig. II, with the cutting mechanism and adjacent parts in the positions assumed afterthc. web of transparent paper has been cut and before the paper strip has been applied to an envelop blank Fig. Y is in part a front clevation of the frame of the machine, the cutting and prcsscr mechanism, and in part a vertical sectiomonline Fig. Ill. Fig. YI is an enlarged view illustrating the machine in-part in plan and in part in horizontal section taken on line \'l-\'l, Fig. Y. Fig. \II is a vertlcal section taken on lmc \"ILA'II, Fig. Y. Fig. YIII is an enlarged verticalsection taken on line \I lh-Yll I ,Fig. II, with parts adjacent to said line shown in elevation.. Fig. lX is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line lX-.IX, Figll. Fig. X is a cross section taken on line X-X, Fig. IX. Fig. X1 is a cross section taken on line XIXI, Fig. IX. Fig. Xll is a secti'on taken on line XII-XII, Fig. XI. Fig.

XIII is a erspective view of the awl illustrated in' igs. XI and XII. Fig. enlarged perspective view of the knife carrying block and pa er cutting knives. Fig. XV is an enlarger perspective view of the presser foot that operates upon the strip of transparent paper, aiter it has been cut and by which said strii of transparent paper is pgressed against the envelop blaii Fig.

VI is an enlarged elevation of one of thesup porting plates by which the strip of transparent paper is upheld after it has been cut and before it is delivered to the envelop blank. Fig. XVII is a section taken on line X\'IIX\'II, Fig. XV I. Fig. XVIII is a rear elevation of one of the cams emloyed for the operation of the restraining feet associated with the presser foot of the machine. Fig. XIX is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line XIXXIX, Fig. II. Fig. XX is an enlarged view artly in side elevation and partly in verticaFcross section taken on line XX XX, Fig. II, illustrating the means for supporting and controlling the u )per set of paper feeding rollers. Fig. XXl is a cross section taken on line XXI-XXI, Fig. XX. Fig. XXII is a perspective view of one of the Hfii'sparent paper strips. Fig. XXIII is a plan view of the envelop blank with a transparent paper strip .-hown applied thereto.

means for applying paste to envelop blanks,

means for folding and pasting the blanks, and other features of construction which do not form any part of my present invention and therefore are not illustrated. The main frame I is provided with journal boxes 2 and suirmounted by a post 3 that serve to receive lhcmbcrs to be hcrcinal'ter more particularly rcl'crrcd to.

4 is atable onto which the envelop blanks A, having sight openings ll. arc l'cd in an unl'oldcd condition, and with what is to be the inside ol the front of the envelop when folded, uppermost. 5 is a spindle mounted in the post 3 and extending horizontally therefrom. This spindle supports a roll (1 of transparent paper that is loosely mounted on the spindle and from which the web of transparent paper fed-and cut into stri )S to be applied to the envclop blanks as will hereina tcr appear. The 'roll of transparent paper IV is an the feed roller 1 said spur wheel 13.

the hone 19 of said pin hole 9, thereby causing the hanger arm 14 in which'said pin is located to be lifted, as a result of which the cross rod 15 is rocked and the hanger arm 14 at the other end of said rod is also raised and the feed roller 11 is moved away from the feed roller 10 to a suflicient degree to create is held under a desired degree of restraint to prevent the web of transparent aper from unwinding too rapidly by a dis mounted upon the spindle 3 and b an expansion spring 7, desired degree of tension in, by the adjustment of a set collar 8 mounted upon the spindle and against which the outer end of said spring rests.

9 designates. a pair of vertically disposed side plates or supporting members secured to the main frame 1 of the machine and extend-' 'ing rearwardly therefrom,

10 and 11 are upper feed rollers supported by said side plates and between which the b of transparent paper drawn from the roll C is fed. The spindles of the feed roller 10 are journaled in the side lates and upon one spindle of the feed roll er 10 is a spur Wheel 12, while uponthe oppo'site spindle of 0 is a s ur wheel 13. The feed roller 11 1S su ported by a pair of hanger arms 14 that are fiired to a rockable cross rod 15 mounted in the up er ends of the side plates 9 whereby said eed roller 11 may be allowed to move toward and away from the periphery of the feed roller 10. Upon a spindle of the feed roller 11, and opposing t e spur wheel 13 0f the feed roller 10, is a spur wheel 16 arran ed to 006 crate with 0 provide or a desired pressure by thefeed roller 11 upon of transparent paper passing be- 1, I furnish which is atonding hanger arm 14 and the other end tot e adjacent side plate 9.

It is desirable to rovide means whereb the feed he in a separated condition when the web of eing passed between the feed rol ers and carried to the point at which it is to he cut into strips andapplied to the envelop blanks, while the machine is at rest (it being understood that it is necessary to perform this act by hand before placing the machine in operation and a o perform it in the arrow Fig. XXI, enters into the pin which the web of transparent paper delivered from the roll C may be readily passed. When the lift pin is again moved outwardly its cone is removed from the pin hole 9 and the partsare caused to resume their former positions due to the action of the sprin s 17. 22 designates a guide rod (see Figs. II, III and IV) mounted in the side plates 9 and over which the web of transparent paper passes in its course from the feed rollers 10 and 11. In its passage to said guide rod the web of transparent paper passes beneath a floating take-up rod23 that is loosely mounted in a p cated at the rear of the side plates 9. 25 designates a knife carrying block that is loosely fitted in guideways in the main frame of the machine and preferably held in said guideways by the side plates 9, as seen most clearly in Fig. VI. This knife carrying block is adapted to partake of a vertical movement within the frame'of the machine and it is normally upheld b lift springs 26 that are. attachedat their l dwer ends to the knife carry- I t their upper ends to station ary studs 27 projecting over the space in which the knife carrying block operates. Fixed to the knifecarrying block, at its rear side, is a knife 28 having a bottom cutting edge and at the front side of said knife carrying block is a wall 25 that is rovided with vertical slots 25, the said wall eing extend ed downwardly to a greater degree than the said knife as seen most clearly in Figs. III and IV.

29 are pa ends of the minating at their lower ends in inturned horizontal h s 30 (see Fi s; and XVI and XVII), the said plates bein of a utility that will be hereinafter s eoi ed he knife carrying block 'is provide with a at terminates at its u p degree of the web springs 17, one end of each of tached to the corres transparent aper is per receiving plates fixed to the of the feed rollers and the holding of the ler 11 away from the other roller 10, I use a lift pin 18 that is loosely fitted in one of the anger arms 14 and susceptible of sliding therein and. provide on the shank of said pin a cone 1-9 and produce a pin hole 9 in the side late 9 adjacent to the swinging arm in which the lift pin fits. The shank of the lift in has an inner reducer ess diameter than the di hole 9 in the side plate 9 and at the termination of its reduced portionis astop 21 that prevents the withdrawal of the lift pin from said pin hole. lVhen the lift pin is pressed forwardly in the direction indlcated by the IS a cam shaft that is journaled'in the boxes 2 on the main frame 1. On this cam shaft is a spur wheel 33 and drives the spur wheel 12 roller 10.

a clearance between said feed rollers through:

nife carrying block 25 and ter-,

that meshes with of the feed air of vertical slotted guides 24 lo- III to v inclusive ing block 25 against the action of the lift s rings 26 connected to said knife carrying b ock. The cams are of such form that after the desired degree o descent of the knife 5 carrying block is accomplished, they will permit of the knife carrying block beingagaln raised to its former position by the lift springs just mentioned.

35'is a presser footlocated beneath the knife carrying block and" which occupies a practically box-like cavity within said bottom, due to the existence of the front wall 25 of the knife carrying block, the knife 28 and the paper supporting plates 29. The

presser foot 35 is carried by a vertical stem 37 that extends loosely through the post of the knife carrying block and in the upper end of which is loosely fitted a roller 38.

This roller is ada ted to be engaged by a cam 39 that is carrie by the cam shaft 33 in conjunction with the cams 34 thereon and which .acts upon engagement with said roller, to impart a downward movement to the stem 37 and the presser foot. 'It should be here 35 stated, however, that the working face of the cam 39 is so disposed relative to the working faces of the cams 34 that said cams are brought into action at different times as will hereinafter more particularly a pear.

40 are lift springs by which the presser foot and its stem are normally held in elevated position and by which said parts are returned to their elevated positions after the cam 39 has acted thereon. These lift springs are connected at their lower ends to the presser foot and their upper ends are p 'feferably connected to the shafts 31 on which the cam receiving rollers 32 are mounted (see Figs. V and VI).

41 designates restraining feet that are loosely seated in the presser foot 35 and extend into the slots 25 in the front wall of the knife'carrying block 25. These restraining feet are carried by rods 42 that extend verti cally through the kn e carrying block and its head, the rods terminating at their upper ends above said head. The rods 42 and the restraining feet carried thereby are normally upheld by lift springs 43 which surround the.

rods, rest upon the top of the knife carrying i block and bear at their upper ends against collars 44, fixed to said rods.

45 are cam blocks carried by the cams 34 and adapted to cooperate with the upper ends of t e rods 42 for the purpose of deprrssing said rods and the restrainlng feet against the lifting action of the lift springs 43. The

cam blocks 45 are preferably provided 'with ribs 46 and longitudinal-slots 47 (see Fig. 0 XVIII) and are fitted to the cams 34 by the insertion of their ribs into circular grooves 34 in the sides'of said cams- Each cam block is adjustably held to the cam 34 to which it is applied by a set screw 48 that 55 passes throng the slot in the cam block and into the cam 34. It will be seen that the cam blocks may, as a consequence of the construction just described be readily adjusted relative to the working faces of the cams 34 to position them for action upon the rods 42 at the proper time relative to the action of the cams 34 and the action of the cam 39 associated with the first named cams. I

49 designates an upper secondary feed roller and 50 a lower secondary feed roller. This pair of feed rollers are located one above the other adjacent to the knife carrying block 25 and at the rear of said block. provided with circumferential grooves as seen most clearly in Fig. 11, that receive parts to be presently more particularly refcrred to. i

51 designates a'horizontalknife bar, the cutting edge of which is located in opposition to the in ovable knife 28 011 the knife carrying block 25. g I

52 are lower guide fingers attached to and projecting rearwardly from the knife bar 51 and occupying the circumferential grooves in the lower feed roller 50. 1

53 are upper guide fingers that surmount the lower guide fingers 52 and occupy the circumferential grooves in the upperfeed roller. 49. The upper guide fingers are supported by a cross bar 54 that is attached to the side plates 9 immediately above the knife bar51. The movable" knife 28 is adapted to operate in a shearing manner against the cutting edge of the knife bar 51 for which purpose the knife 28 is inclined in an upward direction at its lower and cutting edge and the knife bar 51 is so formed that its cutting edge will enter at one end of the bar beneath the knife 28 when the knife is elevated, as seen in Fig. XIV. The other end of the knife bar always remains at the rear face .of the knife and'consequently the cutting edges of these two members are, when cutting action takes place arranged obliquely to each other. For the purpose of securing the desired adjustment of the knife bar 51 relative to the knife 28 said knife bar has attached to it adjustment rods 55 that are mounted in the side plates 9 and surrounded by expansion springs 56. The springs 56 tend to force the knife bar 51 in a direction toward the knife 2& and hold it yieldingly in such position to cause the dcsircd shearing cut, thedcgrcc of inward move- Each roller is ment of the knife bar being controlled by set nuts 57 on the adjustment rods.

To secure the desired degree of contact between the upper and lower feed rollers 49 and 50, l mount the lower feed roller in the lower ends of supporting bars 58 that are slotted to encircle the s )indlcs of the upper feed roller as shown in dotted lines Fig. Ill, and the upper ends of which extend through lugs 59 projecting from the side'plates 9. On said bars above said'lugs are lift springs 60 and nuts 61, as seen most clearly in Fig.

the up set screw ratchet wheel runway 72 of the housing 71.

cam shaft 33, and upon rovides for the dingly upheld to I III. This construction lower feed roller being yie er feed roller. I

The ower feed roller 50 0 crates merely as I an idler while the upper fee roller 49 is operj ated through means that will now be described. Upon a spindle 49 of said roller (see Fig. IX) is an annular rim 49 1 62 is a ratchet Wheel fixed to the spindle 49 and having a sleeve 63 that projects inwardly toward the annular rim on said spindle.

64 is a disk mounted on the sleeve of the and held in frictional contact with said ratchet wheel by a spring 65. The disk 64 is provided at its edge with a notch 64 66 is a pawl carrying disk located alongside of the ratchet wheel 62, and 67 is a pawl carried by said disk and having a point 68 that engages the teeth ofsaid ratchet wheel. The pawl is provided with a finger 69 that seats in the notch in the disk 64 and which has a utility to be mentioned.

70 is a pinion fixed to the spindle 49 and upon an extension of which the disk 66 is rigidlymounted (see Fig. IX).

1 is a housing'inclosing the pinion 7 O and provided with a runway 72 (see Fig. VIII), of set from said pinion.

73 is a reciprocatory bar by which the pinion 70 is driven, the bar for this purpose being provided at its lower end with a rack 74 that engages the pinion and operates in the The upper end of the bar 7 3 is bifurcated to straddle the the bar is a roller 75 (see Figs. I, II and V III) that is engaged by a cam 76 carried by said cam shaft. The reciprocatory bar 73 has connected to it a lift spring 77- that serves to maintain the roller 75 i'n'engagement with the cam 76, the said spring being connected at its lower end to the bar at 79 and to a fixed part of the machine at 80.

81 is a stop 'carried by the recipmcatory bar'and )rojecting into proximity with-a lug 82 attached ,t0 the main frameof the machine (see Figs. 1 and. 11'). Inthis lug is a 83 that opposes the stop 81, the set screw being adapted to be adjusted for the purpose of governing the degree of move- Inent of the reciprocatory bar that carries said stop. Upon the-downward imveinent of the reciprocatory bar its rack 74, cooperating with the pinion 70 acts to impart rotation to said pinion. The pawl carrying disk 66 being fixed to said pinion is rotated therewith and the pawl 67 is caused to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 62, fixed to the feed roller spindle 49, and impart rotation thereto with the result of turning the feed roller 49. Upon each re urn movement of the reciprocatory bar 73 the pawl carrying disk 66 carries the pawl 67 backwardly in an inactivecondition and the feed roller 49 is unaffected dur-' esasss ing this period. While the movement of the disk 66 and its pawl is taking place the point of the pawl is held out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. This result is accomplished through the medium of the disk 64, in the notch 64 of which the finger of the pawl is seated, being held under restraint by the spring 65 bearing against said disk and holding it in frictional contact with the adjacent face of the ratchet wheel 62.. The construction just referred to provides for an actuation of the pawl and prevents it from wearingagainstthe ratchet wheel on its return movement and also renders the ratchet tion between said parts either initially or after theyhave become worn. It will be seen that when the collar is turned on the feed roller spindle its eccentric sleeve will act upon the housing to shift it transversely relative to the feed roller spindle. For the purpose of locking the adjustment collar in a 'set position the head of said collar is provided with a semircircular slot 84 and a set screw 86 is passed through said slot and seated in the housing 71, whereby the head of said screw is caused to bind against the head of said collar.

The spindle 49 of the feed roller 49 opposite that to which the feed mechanism is applied bears a finger knob 87 by which the feed roller may be turned by hand in passing the web of transparent paper between the feed rollers 49 and 50 in preparing the machine for service. For the purpose of preventing undue movement of the feed roller 49 I mount upon the spindle 49 of said roller a brake wheel 88 (see Fig. XIX) and apply to said brake wheel a friction band 89. The friction band is attached to one end to-the stem of an adjustment screw 90 mounted-in a lug 1 projecting from a fixed part of the machine, and the other end of the band\loosely encircles the screw stem. When the adjustment screw is turned in the lug 1 the friction band is either bound more tightly to the brake wheel 88, or loosened on said wheel ac-v cording to the direction in which the screw is turned, whereby -the desired degree ofv brake action, relative to the is obtained.

During the practical use the upper set of feed rollers, 10 and'll, and the lower set, or secondary set of feed ppller's 49 and 50 driven in the manner described,

operate upon the web of transparent paper,

feed roller 49,

of my machine,

whereby the paper is gradually fed, between the guide fingers 52 and 53 and across the knife bar 51, during the period that the knife carrying block 25, and the presser foot 35 are in elevated positions. It is to be understood in this connection that the surplus amount of transparent paper that is fed forwardly by the upper feed rollers while the lower feed rollers are inactive, is held taut by the takeup rod 23. The web of paper having been fed across the knife bar 51, while the knife carrying block 25 and presser foot 35 are in elevated position is cut to produce a strip for application to an envelop blank, when the knife carrying block descends from the position seen in Fig. III to the position seen in Fig. I". The time at which this cutting action takes place is determined by the arrangement and working of the cams 34. The strip of paper cut from the main web, falls as it is cut, onto the lips 30 of the paper receiving plates 29, which serve as supports therefor, for the time being. The presser foot 35 is then forced downwardly due to the cooperation of the cam 39 with the roller carried by the stem of said presser foot and as said presser foot descends, it carries the strip Jf transparent paper previously severed from the main web to the envelop blank, resting on the table 4. The envelop blank having been previously coated with an adhesive, at the location. of the sight opening therein, receives the strip of transparent paper in a manner to cause such strip to adhere thereto when pressure is exerted against it by the presser foot. Then before the )resser foot ascends under the action of its lift springs, and before the cam 39 has been removed from engagement with the roller with which it cooperates, the restraining feet 41 are pressed downwardly 'to the envelop blank, and the strip of transparent paper thereon due to the cooperation of the cam blocks 45 with the upper ends of the rods 42 that carry said restraining feet, whereby said feet are held in engagement with the envelop blank to prevent its upward movement, while the presser foot is ascending The cam blocks just mentioned then immediately pass out of engagement with the rods 42, allowing the restraining feetto be liftedunder the influenee of the lift springs 43, surrounding the rods 42. The envelop blank to which the transparent sheet has been applied in the manner stated, is then conducted oil' the.

table 4 by suitable means (not shown) thereby leaving the table clear to receive the next blank for the application of a transparei'it strip of paper to it.

I claim 1. in an envelop machine of the character described, the combination of an envelop blank receiving table, means for su )porting a web of transparent paper, means for feeding the web to a point above said table,

means for receiving and supporting the Web and carrying the paper strip, having a knife for cutting the web into strips, and means located within the receiving, supporting and carrying means whereby the strip is dislodged from its support and pressed to an envelop blank resting on said table, substantially as set forth.

2. in an envelop machine of the character described, the combination of an envelop blank receiving table, means for feeding a web of transparent paper into a position above said table, means for receivlng and supporting the web and carrying the aper strip having a knife for cutting the we into strips, means located within the receiving,

supporting and carrying means for pressin the strips to envelop blanks resting on sai table, and means for restraining the envelop blanks from movement while s'aid pressing means is moving away from the blank, substantially as set forth.

3. In an envelop machine of the character described the combination of an envelop blank receiving table, means for supportin a web of transparent-pa er, primary feed rollers between which sait web asses, sec- 7 ondary feed rollers between whic saidwebalso passes, means for receiving and supporting the web and carrying the paper strip having a knife for cutting S2Ll( web into strips after it has passed said secondary feed rollers and means located within the receiving, supporting and carrying means for pressing the strips to an envelop blank resting on said table, substantially as set. forth.

4.' In an envelop machine of the character described, the combination of an envelop blank receiving table, means for supportin a web of transparent paper-,primary fee rollers between which said web passes, secondary feed rollers between which said web also passes, means for receiving and sup orting the web and carrying the paper strip aving a knife for cutting said web into stri s after it has passed said secondary feed r0 1- ers, means located within the receiving, su porting and carrying means for pressing t 1e strips of paper to an envelop bank resting on said table, and take-up means for holding said web in a taut condition while it is pass ing from one. set of said feed rollers to the other set of feed rollers, substantially as set forth. 4

In an envelop machine of the character described, the combination of an envelop blank receiving table, a knife carrying block, a knife carried by said knife carrying block, a spring )ressed knife bar arranged obliquely to said knife and one end of the cutting edge of which knife bar is ada )ted to pass to a position beneath said knife, and recede from such position during the cutting action, means "for feeding a web of paper to said knife bar and knife to cut it into strips, and means blanks for pressing strips of paper to envelolp y as set placed upon said table, substantial orth.

6. In an envelop machine of the character 5 described, the combination of an envelop blank receiving table, a knife carrying block, a spring pressed knife carried by said knife carrying look, a knife bar opposing said e and movable at an angle relative to said knife means for feedin a web of paper to said knife bar and knifie to be out into strips, a presser foot b paper are pressed to the envelop b anks laced on said table, and restraining feet for l iolding the envelop blank depressed, while said presser foot is receding, substantially as set forth.- .c l

7. In an envelop machine of the character which the strips of described, the combination of an envelop lank receiving table, a chambered knife carrying block, a knife carried b said knife carrying block, a spring contro ed knife bar opposing said knife, means for feeding a web of paper to said kiiife bar and knife to be out I 

